Watch the armless pianist who won ‘China’s Got Talent’ (Video)

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Britain has Susan Boyle. America has Jackie Evancho. And now China has Liu Wei.

Who? Wei, the 23-year-old armless pianist who performs with his toes, is China’s newest reality-show-competition superstar, having won the final round of ‘China’s Got Talent’ this week. The pianist lost his arms at the age of 10 after he touched a high-voltage wire during a game with friends. At the age of 18, he began teaching himself to play the piano using his toes.

Wei won the first season of the Chinese reality TV competition by performing the popular James Blunt song ‘You’re Beautiful.’ The bespectacled musician sang the lyrics in English as he accompanied himself on the piano.

‘China’s Got Talent’ is the latest international spin-off of the popular British franchise that was spearheaded by Simon Cowell. The series airs on China’s Dragon TV.

Wei prevailed over runner-up Zhang Fengxi, a 7-year-old stand-up comic. The Beijing pianist is expected to get a record contract and to perform with Taiwanese Mandopop star Jolin Tsai.

-- David Ng

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